Obama wins US election

Wed, 07 Nov, 2012 - 06:10

Barack Obama has been re-elected President of the United States of America.

With counting still underway in some states, he is more than 30 points above the crucial 270 mark needed to secure a win.

All the major television networks have called it in the Democrat's favour, defeating the Republican Mitt Romney.

There are wild scenes of celebration in the President's campaign headquarters in Chicago - contrast that with disappointment where Romney is in Massachusetts.

His rival Mitt Romney told supporters he had called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory.

The former Massachusetts governor insisted he and running mate Paul Ryan had “given our all” to the campaign and said he wished his Democrat opponent well.

Republican Mr Romney urged his supporters to pray for the re-elected president as returns to the White House against a backdrop of economic gloom.

He added: “I so wish that I had been able to fulfil your hopes to lead the country in a different direction but the nation chose another leader and so I join with you to earnestly pray for him and for this great nation.”

Barack Obama's supporters are now awaiting his victory speech at his headquarters in Chicago.

This happened because of you. Thank you.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 7, 2012

He has already emailed his supporters, thanking them for their campaigning.

He said his victory was not fate or an accident, they made it happen, and he pledged to spend the rest of his presidency doing what he can to finish what they started.

He also told them that today is the clearest proof yet that, against the odds, ordinary Americans can overcome powerful interests.